Taft Man Struck & Killed by Hit and Run Truck Trailer Combo on SR-58

Man Tossed From Vehicle & Struck by Big Rig After Driver Attempts to Pass on Shoulder

Traffic Collision on 1-15 Near Nipton Kills Passenger and Badly Injures Driver

BORON, Ca. – A man seeking assistance for his disabled vehicle was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on Sunday.

At around 7:30 p.m. a 52-year-old Taft man was driving his 2003 GMC SUV with his family on the SR-58 west of US-395. The vehicle began having mechanical issues so the driver pulled over to the shoulder. He called for a tow truck, but was not sure of his exact location so he got outside the vehicle and walked eastbound on the shoulder of SR-58 in westbound lanes. For reasons unknown, he walked into the #2 lane and was struck by a truck trailer combination vehicle.

The truck tractor combination vehicle continued driving a short distance then pulled over, just west of the disabled GMC. The driver of the truck trailer combination vehicle was described as a heavy-set white man and his passenger was described as a tall middle eastern man. Both exited the vehicle and evaluated the scene. Both got back into the vehicle and left westbound. The wife of the driver did not know what had just happened so she got out of the GMC to find her husband lying in the #2 lane. She called 911. Emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene and pronounced the 52-year-old man deceased at the scene.

A BOLO (Be on the lookout) was broadcasted but the suspect vehicle was not found. The truck tractor should have some front-end damage and will be missing a “mud flap”. CHP officials do not believe that alcohol and drugs are a factor in the collision. Anyone who witnessed the collision is urged to contact the Barstor California Highway Patrol at (760)255-5900.